Us MMA fans are a diverse and passionate bunch, which is why it’s truly a rare occurrence to see us unite in agreement over a given topic no matter how trivial. Whether it’s a simple fight pick or our reactions to something bigger — the Reebok deal, for instance — you will always find a broad range of reactions, from positive to incredibly negative (also, hurtful, misogynistic, and erroneously punctuated), strewn across every forum and comments section on the web. But not with UFC 189.

In my 5 years of covering the sport, I don’t know if I’ve *ever* witnessed an event quite like UFC 189. Over the course of the night, our reactions unanimously shifted from excited, to shocked, to overwhelmed, to an emotion that is not yet defined but can best be described as “HWAHHHNNNGGG!!!!” We were *all* the Just Bleed guy by the end of Saturday night, and two days later, I’m still not ready to wash the paint off my chest. It just feels right, you know?

UFC 189 was the kind of event that made us remember why we’ve stuck by this sport as it’s biggest promotion has made one disastrous decision after another. It was the kind of event that almost transcended combat sports in its ability to entertain and captivate. It was the kind of event that Matt Saccaro couldn’t find any holes in, you guys.

First, let me say, I’m no professional gambler, but who really is? What I am is a former professional fighter and a trainer of multiple UFC fighters, and I’ve recently (last few years—not, like, today’s my first time) started betting on fights. I’ve also been doing very well with my bets, so I thought I’d share them with you. So strap in for this, the inaugural edition of Gambler’s Gambit, or, Smart Fights to Not Lose Your Ass On at UFC 189.

Look, we are well aware that we here at CagePotato have never been considered the go-to source for expert fight analysis (or timely delivered news, or comedic-themed MMA content, even…). That was, until now! We are proud to present an exclusive, recurring video serieswhich previews and breaks down the biggest matchups from upcoming UFC events, all technical like. This is Fight University, starring former UFC fighter Santino DeFranco!

If you recall, Santino DeFranco is a 13-4 MMA veteran and TUF 9 alum who has competed under the Bodog, King of the Cage, and K-1 banners and scored wins over Melvin Guillard and Waylon Lowe (among others). DeFranco also happens to hold an MFA in creative writing, and in addition to the exclusive recaps he wrote for us while competing on the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, has written for Fightland and Sherdog. Suffice it to say, dude’s qualified.

Check out Santino’s inaugural installment above, which previews the last-minute (but still hotly-anticipated) interim featherweight title fight between Conor McGregor and Chad Mendes at UFC 189 this weekend. And if that’s not awesome enough, keep an eye out for Gambler’s Gambit, an updated version of our gambling enabler pieces that DeFranco will *also* be penning for us moving forward. The first entry of that series drops tomorrow!

So Nation, as expected the most lavishly-promoted fight in UFC history has gone up in smoke. God. Dammit. What could of caused such wrath from the MMA gods? Oh, yeah. Thanks #UFCFightKit.

Anyways, the UFC did secure a back-up plan for the “Notorious” one in Team Alpha Male stud Chad Mendes. The two-time title challenger had been brought into Las Vegas as stand-by, as luck would of have it, was drafted in the 11th hour. Mendes is still a solid replacement against McGregor considering their heated arguments and arguably a tougher stylistic match-up, even if it’s not the fight we were all hoping for. But before I spiral into a deep depression, let’s get into the A-to-Z preview of this weekend’s still pretty epic event, shall we?

Now that Jose Aldo has gone down with a rib injury, Conor McGregor will face Chad Mendes in the main event of UFC 189, and as such, the UFC has scrambled to release their traditional Countdown episodes to hype up the match. It’s about time if you ask me, because I had barely heard of the chatty Irishman with the fancy suits and funky tattoos prior to this.

Check out the full McGregor vs. Mendes Countdown special above, then head after the jump to see what welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald have planned for their second go-around in Saturday’s co-main event.

Jose Aldo is out of UFC 189. For realsies this time. Conor McGregor will now face Chad Mendes for the interim featherweight title at UFC 189 on 11 days notice. The news was delivered by Dana White on Sportscenter last night, the video of which you can check out after the jump.

Top-5 ranked featherweights Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas will meet in the main event of UFC Fight Night 63, April 4th at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The booking was announced last night during the UFC Fight Night 59 broadcast by FOX reporter Ariel Helwani, who added that the Mendes vs. Lamas show would have a 1 p.m. ET start time.

Mendes’s last Octagon appearance was a decision loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 179 — which marked the second time that Mendes was defeated by Aldo. There will have to be a changing of the guard if Mendes hopes to sniff another title shot in the future. (Hint, hint.) Lamas has scored wins against Hacran Dias and Dennis Bermudez since his own title-fight loss to Aldo last February at UFC 169.

Essentially, the winner of this fight could clinch a featherweight title shot — as long as Conor McGregor beats Jose Aldo in May. But if Aldo retains his belt? It’s hard to make a strong case for either guy to get another crack. That being said, a UFC event in the middle of the day is a great excuse to spend your Saturday afternoon eating wings and drinking beer, and that’s always a good thing. The current UFC Fight Night 63 lineup is…

It seems Jose Aldo won’t even be given a chance to clean out the cobwebs from his epic war with Chad Mendes last weekend before we start discussing who he will face next. While the crowd vote seems to be swaying in the way of a fast-talking Irishman wid da finest suits money can buy, the MMA media almost unanimously agree that whatever Daddy Dana says is fineCub Swanson, should he defeat Frankie Edgar at Fight Night 57 next month, would undoubtedly establish himself as the division’s true #1 contender.

Unfortunately for Swanson, a verbal agreement for a title shot doesn’t mean sh*t when you’ve got a bonafide star like McGregor waiting in the wings. In his post-scrum interview with Ariel Helwani at UFC 179, Dana White declared that “If everything goes to plan, then we can probably have a fight between [McGregor and Aldo] in the summer.” Not only does this statement directly contradict the title fight Swanson was apparently promised, but it really doesn’t say much for how the UFC feels Siver’s chances are against McGregor either.

It’s a clusterfuck of a situation, basically, but it’s times like these when the voice of *true* reason needs to be heard. We’re talking about the voice of MMA fans so hardcore that they only a follow an uncredentialed blog full of UFC-hating hacks, posers, and h8rs. We’re talking about fans who read a blog that pulls no punches except for when they are forced to by threat of legal action. We’re talking about MMA fans who read a blog that was quoted by The New YorkerandJezebel this year and not once paused to brag about it. They are called…the Taters.

Join us after the jump to vote in our poll, Taters, lest your humorous insight and spot-on analysis of the featherweight title picture go unheard.

Below: Aldo and Mendes are interviewed after the bout, and the champ discusses the late-punches controversy at the end of round 1. Aldo lands a great diss on Conor McGregor — “I’m the king, Chad’s the prince, and now we have a joker” — while Mendes just promises to kick McGregor’s ass.